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Skupski Advances in Straight Sets at NCAA's

by LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
Live Results NCAA Men's Doubles Draw (.pdf) +0
Skupski Advances in Straight Sets at NCAA's

ATHENS, Ga. — Senior Ken Skupski of the LSU men’s tennis team cruised in his first round match with No.10-ranked Todd Paul of Wake Forest, 6-2, 6-3, in the NCAA Singles Tournament at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex at the University of Georgia.

Skupski will now face No. 37-ranked Bojan Szumanski of Texas Tech in the second round on Thursday. Szumanski reached the second round by defeating No. 96-ranked Jason Pinsky of Pennsylvania, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The win improves Skupski’s record to 23-15 on the season. The first-team All SEC selection has defeated 13 ranked opponents this season. 

Skupski will begin doubles play Thursday. He and partner James Cluskey will take on Piotr Dilaj and Luke Shields of Boise State.

“I was looking forward to this match because I knew Paul had been ranked No. 1 earlier this year and it was a good opportunity to push myself in the top 20,” Skupski said. “Coach (Mark) Booras really pushed me today and the score reflected how well I played.”

With Skupski holding a 4-2 advantage in the first set, the Liverpool, England native broke Paul in the seventh game to extend his lead to 5-2. Skupski was down 40-15 in the eight game before he rallied back to win the game and the set.

The two lefty seniors split the first four games of the second set. Skupski broke Paul in the fifth game and held serve the next to take a 4-2 lead. Paul took the next game before Skupski controlled the momentum the rest of the way to take the set, 6-3, and the match.

The win pushes Skupski’s career total to 103. 

Skupski’s teammate Danny Bryan will play his first round match Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m EDT against No. 26-ranked Pierre Mouillon of California.

NCAA Men’s Tennis Singles Championship
May 23, 2007
Round of 64
#24 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #10 Todd Paul (Wake Forest), 6-2, 6-3
#26 Pierre Mouillon (California) def. #32 Danny Bryan (LSU), 6-3, 6-3

Round of 32
May 24, 2007
#24 Ken Skupski (LSU; 23-15 overall) vs. #37 Bojan Szumanski (Texas Tech; 22-13 overall), 9 a.m.

NCAA Men’s Tennis Doubles Championship
May 24, 2007
Round of 32
(4) #4 Danny Bryan/Colt Gaston (LSU; 22-3 overall; 18-3 dual) vs. #54 Tim Bradshaw/Brady Crosby (Western Michigan; 9-7 overall; 2-3 dual), 1 p.m.
#22 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski (LSU; 22-10 overall; 15-7 dual) vs. #56 Piotr Dilaj/Luke Shields (Boise St.; 14-9 overall), 2:30 p.m.